Pope’s sex abuse prevention summit explained / Associated Press

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, one of the summit organizers, said the sexual abuse of adults needs to be addressed. But he said the four-day summit must remain focused on its original intent. “Young people, minors don’t have a voice. They are kept in silence,” he said. “This is about making sure their voice is heard.” (National Catholic Reporter)

Pope Francis is hosting a four-day summit on preventing clergy sexual abuse, a high-stakes meeting designed to impress on Catholic bishops around the world that the problem is global and that there are consequences if they cover it up.

“The meeting opening Thursday (Feb. 21) comes at a critical time for the church and Francis’ papacy, following the explosion of the scandal in Chile last year and renewed outrage in the United States over decades of cover-up that were exposed by the Pennsylvania grand jury report.